WESTFIELD — Franklin and Hampshire county residents got a first-hand opportunity to see the presumptive Democratic nominee for president over the weekend as Vice President Kamala Harris landed in western Massachusetts on Saturday for a fundraising event in Pittsfield.

Legislators and activists from the Pioneer Valley were invited to welcome Harris to Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, as the vice president visited the state for the fundraiser — the first one since President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race — that was expected to raise more than $1.4 million for her campaign, according to the Associated Press.

“She seemed relaxed and she seemed to be really enjoying herself,” said Carrie Baker, a Smith College professor who was invited to the event as she is a board member of the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts. “The groundswell of support that’s been shown over the last week since she’s become the presumptive candidate has just been stunning. … It was really energizing to be in that crowd and to feel like we are coming together across all these differences.”

Beth Tabor Lev, one of the leaders of the Indivisible Northampton–Swing Left Western Mass., said welcoming Harris to Massachusetts was a “very sweet and exciting experience.” Indivisible Northampton-Swing Left Western Mass. is the local chapter of the national Indivisible movement.

“It was a very diverse crowd and we were all united in our excitement. … She came right up, she did shake people’s hands and she was smiling,” Tabor Lev said, adding that Harris emphasized that “we’re doing this together.”

Also in attendance were state Rep. Natalie Blais, D-Deerfield, and Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton. Blais echoed Baker’s sentiment that it was great to see the vice president connecting with those on the ground in Massachusetts.

“To have the vice president here in western Mass., it is not something that we see everyday, so I was honored to receive the invitation,” Blais said. “I was really impressed with the fact that she took the time to engage with individuals on a very personal level. … There was just a sense that history was being made and it was truly something incredible.”

At Saturday’s fundraiser, Harris, sticking to the themes she’s used at other speeches around the nation, painted former President Donald Trump’s campaign as one set on rolling back reproductive rights and other freedoms, while emphasizing the “momentum” she has been riding on since entering the race.

“Do we want to live in a country of freedom, compassion and rule of law, or a country of chaos, fear and hate?” Harris said. “We’re the underdogs in this race. But this is a people-powered campaign, and we have momentum. The day after I announced my candidacy, we saw the best 24 hours of grassroots fundraising in presidential campaign history.”

While Harris was in Massachusetts, Trump gave a keynote address at a bitcoin conference in Nashville, where he promised to “replace the Biden-Harris economic stagnation” with an economic boom, according to the Associated Press.

Baker, who did not attend Harris’ fundraiser in Pittsfield, said her focus on reproductive rights is a strong issue that she thinks can bring out a lot of young voters.

“I’ve been very appreciative that she’s willing to address that issue head-on,” Baker said. “The fact of the matter is the Trump administration and the Project 2025 agenda is focused on banning abortion nationwide … [even here in Massachusetts]. It’s not like we’re immune from the kinds of policies Republicans are threatening to put in place.”

Tabor Lev added that Harris is “working to protect and safeguard the freedoms we currently have that are being threatened by Project 2025” and she believes the vice president has a great chance to win the election in November.

“Even before Biden dropped out, the energy and momentum was very high,” Tabor Lev said, noting that grassroots organizers like her are finding a new “joyful, kind of exuberant” energy in talking to people now. “Other groups are finding similar energized activists and that was before Kamala got involved, and now that she is involved, it’s just incredible.”

For Blais, the focus on reproductive rights is in line with what the Legislature has worked on in recent years.

“In the Massachusetts Legislature, we have taken strong action to protect women’s reproductive health, and to have a candidate speaking about issues that we have already stood up for time and time again is really wonderful,” Blais said, noting that she appreciates Harris’ “positivity” and her message of “unity.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.